full / complete

In Gbaya, the notion of being full or complete (“surround,” “came together,” “all around”) is emphasized with ɗɛ́kɛ́t, an ideophone that designates that which is complete, filled to the brim; someone who lacks nothing.

Ideophones are a class of sound symbolic words expressing human sensation that are used as literary devices in many African languages. (Source: Philip Noss)

without cause / without good reason

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “eagerness,” “wish,” “own accord,” “gladly,” “willingly” or similar in English is translated in the Catholic Mandarin Chinese Sigao version and the Protestant Union Version with a historical Chinese idiom: wúyuán wúgù (無緣無故 / 无缘无故), lit. “no chance, no cause.” (Source: Toshikazu S. Foley in Hong Kong Journal of Catholic Studies, 2011, p. 45ff.)

complete verse (Psalm 109:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 109:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “They have surrounded me with words of enmity,
    they mock me without a reason.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They say bad things about me.
    They come needlessly to fight with me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “They always speak evil to me even without a reason.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “They surround me with words which they hate me,
    and they bring war to me for no reason.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Wamenizunguka na maneno ya chuki,
    wanapigana na mimi bila kuwa na hatia yoyote.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “They are constantly saying that they hate me, and they say evil things about me for no reason.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 109:1 - 109:3

The psalmist begins with a prayer that God not keep quiet or remain inactive in response to his pleas, but that he take action against his enemies (see 28.1; 83.1). O God of my praise means “O God, whom I praise.” Be not silent may have to be recast positively in some languages to say, for example, “God, please do something” or “Answer my plea, God.”

The psalmist’s enemies are wicked; with no reason for doing so, they lie and say evil things about the psalmist (verses 2-3); see similar language in 69.4. In verse 2 the Hebrew has mouths as the subject; it is better to speak of people who accuse and revile the psalmist; and in line b the expression lying tongues can be represented by “liars” or “they tell lies,” instead of Good News Translation “have attacked me,” which may be taken to mean physical assault. A better translation, for example, may be “… say bad things about me” or “… slander me.”

In verse 3 words of hate can be translated “hateful words”; Good News Translation “evil things” is not adequate, since the same Hebrew word “hatred” is used also in verse 5b, and the verb beset means surround, encircle.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .